Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale

I came across these games for the first time when I saw the Steam sale today and they look pretty fun. I'd be interested in picking them up with or without the sale if only there were Linux ports available. So just figured I would pop in here to show there is interest in seeing these games on other platforms.

Like "I would ditch Windows in a snap if Recettear gets a Linix port". Basically every time that I boot Windows (well, 7 out of 10 boots) are to play Recettear.

Unfortunately (and this is very sad for me to say), I don't see the possibility of a port anytime soon. The reason? Carpe Fulgur didn't wrote the games, EasyGameStation did. And they're a japanese group of developers. Doujin developers and Linux seems that doesn't mix (and unfortunately, even Linux isn't that popular in Japan, for reasons that I won't detail here), even if they use multiplatform engines (just found some random Touhou-derivated game wrote on Squirrel... and tied to Windoze only, despite NOTHING stopping them to release for Mac/Linux).

Japanese devs simply don't even consider other platforms than Windows (and rarely, Mac). They're worse than Western developers in that aspect. And if Sega doesn't even port their NATIVE games to Mac... well, with doujin developers it's even harder.

Still, if someone of Carpe Fulgur or EasyGameStation is reading this, I would gladly pay again FULL RETAIL PRICE for any of their games ported to Linux. But I'm not losing my sanity for that. If it happens, cool. If it doesn't... well, at least my Windows license is genuine, and I'll keep living with the annoying reboots. :(

So you never know what might happen down the line. My take on it is that it's worth it to voice our interest so that more developers/publishers start to take notice. Valve got the ball rolling, but Linux users also need to help sustain and increase that momentum by supporting the companies who support us and letting those we want to support know that they are missing out.

- Western AAA: Slim chance, unless if Valve first-party, or some other exception (Metro:LL). Might grow in the upcoming months if Steam Machines are a hit.- Japanese AAA: NOPE. Most of these don't even get PC ports (and the few times they get one, it's mostly CRAP), it's console or NO-THING.- Indie (western): Big, if requested enough. Most devs will port (or at least promise a port). Most of those are developed in multiplatform engines (Unity, Source... UDK however is a pain), so porting isn't that difficult (save for specific cases).- Doujinsoft (japanese indie): Next to zero. Custom engines heavily tied to Windows. Next to no interest on other platforms (not even Mac!). The few games produced on well-known multiplatform engines (Unity, Squirrel, Ren'Py) rarely have anything beyond a buggy Mac port (again, devs simply don't care)

While it is true that the chances of Linux support in doujin games is tragically slim, I honestly adore these kinds of games. And even though I am changing over to a Linux computer, it's this sort of game that gives me the biggest reason to think twice about my decision. But in the end of the day, I have openly chosen this. And I'm going to make due with the hardships that come with it.

While I don't wish to treat Linux support as an entitlement, I'd like to support any request for a Linux port for the games I have or care about with a hearty +1

To put it simple: my Windows partition survives SOLELY for japanese games, because I know well the sad state of affairs, and this isn't going to change anytime soon (trying to get the Japanese mindset to change? Hard luck, won't happen).

For everything else, I have a zero-tolerance policy: no Linux port? NO BUY.

Sadly, the situation dilworks outlined still applies. We'll keep passing along wishes for a Linux (or MacOS) client to the dudes at EGS, but with essentially no domestic market for it, it's always a hard argument to make, even for a game that does as well overseas as Recettear. (Dual-booting being so common also doesn't help, although I know that sticks in the craw of a lot of you Linux fans. :( )